The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards calls Metallica and Black Sabbath "a great joke"
He ain't a fan
Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards has slammed metal torchbearers Metallica and Black Sabbath saying “they’re a great joke.”
In a highly outspoken interview with the New York Daily News, Keith said that most rock and metal music “sounds like a dull thud to me.”
“For most bands, getting the syncopation is beyond them,” Keith complained. “It’s endless thudding away, with no bounce, no lift, no syncopation.”
Turning his attention to metal pioneers Black Sabbath and one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, Metallica, Keith added: “Millions are in love with Metallica and Black Sabbath. I just thought they were great jokes.”
Dismissive of fellow guitar bands, Keith pulled no punches when he turned his attention to hip-hop.
“Rap — so many words, so little said,” he laughed.
“What rap did that was impressive was to show there are so many tone-deaf people out there,” he explained.
“All they need is a drum beat and somebody yelling over it and they’re happy. There’s an enormous market for people who can’t tell one note from another.”
Elsewhere in the candid interview, Keith shared his thoughts on The Beatles, his debauched past and his often tumultuous relationship with Mick Jagger.
Keith releases his first solo album in over 20 years, Crosseyed Heart, on 18th September.
Tickets to The Rolling Stones’ career-spanning exhibition, titled Exhibitionism, are on sale from Kerrang! Radio Tickets now.